The 2019 World Cup is up and running – except when it’s raining – and we have already seen some remarkable performances.
While batsmen have enjoyed some high-scoring surfaces, bowlers have made an impact as well.
We’re putting together a regular ‘player power ranking’ that monitors the top 10 players throughout the league stages in an effort to track the true MVPs of the summer.
The second edition analyses performances until the South Africa v West Indies washout on June 10.
1. Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh; up 2 spots)
Shakib Al Hasan becomes only the second Bangladeshi player to score a century in the World Cup...
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) June 8, 2019
The Bangladesh all-rounder has enjoyed a stellar opening week at the 2019 World Cup. Two fifties and a ton in three games is sensational. Add three wickets to it and it becomes one mighty effort. His 121 against England came in a losing cause but the Tigers will be strengthened by the form of Shakib.
2. Jason Roy (England; new)
The England opener showed what he is capable of by smashing 153 off 121 against a decent Bangladesh attack. He threw his wicket away with 15 overs to go, missing out on a double ton. Roy is at his dangerous best at the moment and is even more critical for England’s hope, now that Jos Buttler has fitness concerns.
3. Rohit Sharma (India; new)
Rohit Sharma scored his 23rd ODI ton against South Africa.
A century and a fifty in two matches against tough opposition means it has been a brilliant start to the tournament for the India opener. Rohit respected the conditions and the South African and Aussie pace attacks to put India in winning positions and it looks like this could be his World Cup.
4. Lockie Ferguson (new Zealand; up four spots)
Consistently among to quickest bowlers in England, Ferguson has rattled batsmen with his pace and superb lines. Granted, his opposition were Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan but to pick up eight wickets in three games at an economy of 3.8 is brilliant in any book.
5. Ben Stokes (England; down four spots)
Ben Stokes.
The England all-rounder had two quiet games with the bat against Bangladesh and Pakistan but has been right up there with the ball in hand. Stokes is operating at a high level this week and if he can sustain his performance in the coming fortnight, England will most likely sail into the semis.
6. Jofra Archer (England; down two spots)
The lanky pacer had a horror game against Pakistan – going for 79 from 10 overs – but bounced back with a three-for against Bangladesh. His pace and immaculate control will be more than a handful for most batsmen and if he gets to bowl with cloud cover around, watch out.
7. David Warner (Australia; down two spots)
David Warner.
The Aussie opener did score a fifty against India but his 56 came off 84 balls as Australia chased India’s 353. All other Australian batsmen went at near or over run a ball, which does not reflect well on Warner’s innings. But at least he has 148 runs from three games.
8. Pat Cummins (Australia; New)
The Aussie quick has been on the money for three games, picking up six wickets and maintaining an economy of less than five. Easily outperforming fellow quick Mitchell Starc, Cummins is the leader of the Aussie bowling attack and should only get better.
9. Alex Carey (Australia; Same)
Alex Carey 50 in 25 balls, the quickest individual fifty in #CWC19 #CWC2019
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) June 9, 2019
Both Chris Gayle (vs Pak) and Jos Buttler (vs Ban) - did it in 33 balls!#IndvAus#AUSvIND
The Aussie keeper started with a record five dismissals on his World Cup debut against Afghanistan. He then hit the second-fastest World Cup fifty by an Aussie, albeit in a losing cause against India. Two record efforts already with the bat and glove. Can’t ask for more.
10. Andre Russell (West Indies; down eight spots)
The West Indies superstar is still banging the ball in at high pace but it has taken a huge toll on his problematic knees, with Russell sitting out of the washed out South Africa match. It seems unlikely that Russell will be able to bat and bowl at 90mph for a month.
